Christmas around the world

December 24, 2012 8:44 AM

A Christmas tree is seen in the main hall of the Galeries Lafayette department store in Paris, Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2012.

A Christmas tree is seen in the main hall of the Galeries Lafayette department store in Paris, Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2012.

Photo: Michel Euler, AP

A Christmas tree is seen in the main hall of the Galeries Lafayette... Photo-3938053.54305 - Times Union

Image 2 of 24

TOPSHOTS Queen Elizabeth II records her Christmas message to the Commonwealth which is to be broadcast in 3D for the first time, in the White Drawing Room at Buckingham Palace in London on December 23, 2012. AFP PHOTO/POOL/ John StillwellJOHN STILLWELL/AFP/Getty Images less

TOPSHOTS Queen Elizabeth II records her Christmas message to the Commonwealth which is to be broadcast in 3D for the first time, in the White Drawing Room at Buckingham Palace in London on December 23, 2012. ... more

TOPSHOTS A Catholic priest prays inside the Grotto at the Church of the Nativity in the biblical West Bank city of Bethlehem, believed to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ, on December 24, 2012. Thousands of Palestinians and tourists were flocking to Bethlehem to mark Christmas at the site where many believe Jesus Christ was born. AFP PHOTO/MUSA AL-SHAERMUSA AL-SHAER/AFP/Getty Images less

TOPSHOTS A Catholic priest prays inside the Grotto at the Church of the Nativity in the biblical West Bank city of Bethlehem, believed to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ, on December 24, 2012. Thousands of ... more

Photo: MUSA AL-SHAER, AFP/Getty Images

TOPSHOTS A Catholic priest prays inside the Grotto at the Church of... Photo-3938057.54305 - Times Union

Image 4 of 24

TOPSHOTS Nigerian Christian pilgrims pray inside the Grotto at the Church of the Nativity in the biblical West Bank city of Bethlehem, believed to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ, on December 24, 2012. Thousands of Palestinians and tourists were flocking to Bethlehem to mark Christmas at the site where many believe Jesus Christ was born. AFP PHOTO/MUSA AL-SHAERMUSA AL-SHAER/AFP/Getty Images less

TOPSHOTS Nigerian Christian pilgrims pray inside the Grotto at the Church of the Nativity in the biblical West Bank city of Bethlehem, believed to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ, on December 24, 2012. ... more

An actor dressed as Ded Moroz (Grandfather Frost), the Russian Santa Claus, smiles through smoke from a fire cracker and flying confetti during a welcome ceremony for him in Moscow's Gorky Park, on December 24, 2012. New Year's is the biggest holiday of the year in Russia, and is followed by the Orthodox Christmas on January 7. AFP PHOTO / KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEVKIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP/Getty Images less

An actor dressed as Ded Moroz (Grandfather Frost), the Russian Santa Claus, smiles through smoke from a fire cracker and flying confetti during a welcome ceremony for him in Moscow's Gorky Park, on December 24, ... more

Indian schoolchildren dressed as Santa Claus ride on a cycle-rickshaw through a street in Amritsar on December 24,2012, ahead of Christmas Day. Despite Christians forming a little over 2 percent of the billion plus population in India, with Hindus comprising the majority, Christmas is celebrated with much fanfare and zeal throughout the country. AFP PHOTO/NARINDER NANUNARINDER NANU/AFP/Getty Images less

Indian schoolchildren dressed as Santa Claus ride on a cycle-rickshaw through a street in Amritsar on December 24,2012, ahead of Christmas Day. Despite Christians forming a little over 2 percent of the billion ... more

Photo: NARINDER NANU, AFP/Getty Images

Indian schoolchildren dressed as Santa Claus ride on a... Photo-3938082.54305 - Times Union

Image 8 of 24

A Bangladeshi woman decorates a tree in Dhaka on Christmas Eve, December 24, 2012. Bangladeshi Christians make up only 0.08 percent of the population of the predominatly Muslim nation. AFP PHOTO/ Munir uz ZAMANMUNIR UZ ZAMAN/AFP/Getty Images less

A Bangladeshi woman decorates a tree in Dhaka on Christmas Eve, December 24, 2012. Bangladeshi Christians make up only 0.08 percent of the population of the predominatly Muslim nation. AFP PHOTO/ Munir uz ... more

Photo: MUNIR UZ ZAMAN, AFP/Getty Images

A Bangladeshi woman decorates a tree in Dhaka on Christmas Eve,... Photo-3938088.54305 - Times Union

Image 9 of 24

A vendor stands selling Santa Claus balloons outside a church in downtown Hanoi on December 24, 2012. Churches, shops, restaurants and shopping mails are being decorated in the Southeast Asian communist nation where some 6 million catholic community are preparing to celebrate Christmas. AFP PHOTO/HOANG DINH NamHOANG DINH NAM/AFP/Getty Images less

A vendor stands selling Santa Claus balloons outside a church in downtown Hanoi on December 24, 2012. Churches, shops, restaurants and shopping mails are being decorated in the Southeast Asian communist nation ... more

Filipinos crowd along makeshift stalls along a road in downtown Manila, Philippines as they make their last-minute shopping on Christmas eve, Monday Dec. 24, 2012. Christmas is one of the most important holidays in this predominantly Roman Catholic nation. less

Filipinos crowd along makeshift stalls along a road in downtown Manila, Philippines as they make their last-minute shopping on Christmas eve, Monday Dec. 24, 2012. Christmas is one of the most important ... more

Photo: Aaron Favila, AP

Filipinos crowd along makeshift stalls along a road in downtown... Photo-3938091.54305 - Times Union

Image 11 of 24

A member of the police department's bomb squad searches a diorama depicting the birth of Christ during a security sweep ahead of Christmas eve services at the main cathedral in Jakarta, Indonesia, Monday, Dec. 24, 2012. Since the Bali bombings in 2002, the world's largest Muslim country has been battling terrorists who recently operate in small groups and have targeted security forces and local "infidels" instead of Westerners. less

A member of the police department's bomb squad searches a diorama depicting the birth of Christ during a security sweep ahead of Christmas eve services at the main cathedral in Jakarta, Indonesia, Monday, Dec. ... more

Photo: Tatan Syuflana, AP

A member of the police department's bomb squad searches a... Photo-3938093.54305 - Times Union

Image 12 of 24

Trees are decorated with lights to celebrate the upcoming Christmas and New Year at Garden of Morning Calm in Gapyeong, South Korea, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2012. Christmas is one of the biggest holidays in South Korea, where over half of the population are Christians. less

Trees are decorated with lights to celebrate the upcoming Christmas and New Year at Garden of Morning Calm in Gapyeong, South Korea, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2012. Christmas is one of the biggest holidays in South ... more

Photo: Ahn Young-joon, AP

Trees are decorated with lights to celebrate the upcoming Christmas... Photo-3938051.54305 - Times Union

Image 13 of 24

Members of a local Smiling Yoga club wearing Santa Claus costumes perform at a public park in Hanoi on December 23, 2012. Churches, shops, restaurants and shopping mails are decorated in the Southeast Asian nation with some six million catholics preparing to celebrate Christmas. TOPSHOTS AFP PHOTO / HOANG DINH NamHOANG DINH NAM/AFP/Getty Images less

Members of a local Smiling Yoga club wearing Santa Claus costumes perform at a public park in Hanoi on December 23, 2012. Churches, shops, restaurants and shopping mails are decorated in the Southeast Asian ... more

Photo: HOANG DINH NAM, AFP/Getty Images

Members of a local Smiling Yoga club wearing Santa Claus costumes... Photo-3938054.54305 - Times Union

Image 14 of 24

A Palestinian man dressed up as Santa Claus carries a Christmas tree and rings a bell as he walks along the wall of Jerusalem's Old City, on December 23 2012, as Christians around the world prepare for Christmas celebrations. TOPSHOTS AFP PHOTO/MENAHEM KAHANAMENAHEM KAHANA/AFP/Getty Images less

A Palestinian man dressed up as Santa Claus carries a Christmas tree and rings a bell as he walks along the wall of Jerusalem's Old City, on December 23 2012, as Christians around the world prepare for ... more

Photo: MENAHEM KAHANA, AFP/Getty Images

A Palestinian man dressed up as Santa Claus carries a Christmas... Photo-3938055.54305 - Times Union

People dressed up as Santa Claus enjoy a traditional Christmas bath... Photo-3938059.54305 - Times Union

Image 16 of 24

Supporters of the German second division football club FC Union Berlin attend the 10th Christmas singing at Stadium Alte Foersterei in Berlin, on December 23, 2012. For two hours, more than 20000 people sang Christmas songs. AFP PHOTO / JÃƒÂ¶rg Carstensen GERMANY OUTJÃƒÂ¶rg Carstensen/AFP/Getty Images less

Supporters of the German second division football club FC Union Berlin attend the 10th Christmas singing at Stadium Alte Foersterei in Berlin, on December 23, 2012. For two hours, more than 20000 people sang ... more

Photo: JÃ–RG CARSTENSEN, AFP/Getty Images

Supporters of the German second division football club FC Union... Photo-3938089.54305 - Times Union

A man disguised as Santa Claus rides a motorcycle in Mexico City,... Photo-3938096.54305 - Times Union

Image 18 of 24

A man dressed in a Santa Claus costume chats on his cell phone as he works at a dog boutique where customer's dogs wearing Christmas costumes walk around in Lima, Peru, Saturday, Dec. 22, 2012. The pet boutique hired him for the Christmas holidays. less

A man dressed in a Santa Claus costume chats on his cell phone as he works at a dog boutique where customer's dogs wearing Christmas costumes walk around in Lima, Peru, Saturday, Dec. 22, 2012. The pet boutique ... more

Photo: Martin Mejia, AP

A man dressed in a Santa Claus costume chats on his cell phone as... Photo-3938050.54305 - Times Union

Image 19 of 24

South Koreans wearing Santa Claus costumes exercise before taking part in the Santa Marathon race in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, Dec. 22, 2012. More than 1,000 people participated in the 5-kilometer (3.1 miles) charity run to raise money for young athletes who play unpopular sports on the occasion of Christmas which is one of the biggest holidays in South Korea. less

South Koreans wearing Santa Claus costumes exercise before taking part in the Santa Marathon race in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, Dec. 22, 2012. More than 1,000 people participated in the 5-kilometer (3.1 ... more

In this Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2012 photo, a child runs through a giant cone of lights, reading "Mayor of Dakar," in central Dakar, Senegal. As Christmas approaches in mostly Muslim Senegal, vendors ply the streets selling tinsel, artificial trees, and inflatable Santas, and the main boulevards are all aglow in holiday lights. Senegal, a moderate country along Africa's western coast, has long been a place where Christians and Muslims coexist peacefully and share in each other's holidays. less

In this Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2012 photo, a child runs through a giant cone of lights, reading "Mayor of Dakar," in central Dakar, Senegal. As Christmas approaches in mostly Muslim Senegal, vendors ply the ... more

Photo: Rebecca Blackwell, AP

In this Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2012 photo, a child runs through a... Photo-3938094.54305 - Times Union

Image 22 of 24

In this Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2012 photo, a Senegalese man uses his smart phone to photograph a display of Christmas lights in the shape of a giant tree, in central Dakar, Senegal. As Christmas approaches in mostly Muslim Senegal, vendors ply the streets selling tinsel, artificial trees, and inflatable Santas, and the main boulevards are all aglow in holiday lights. Senegal, a moderate country along Africa's western coast, has long been a place where Christians and Muslims coexist peacefully and share in each other's holidays. less

In this Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2012 photo, a Senegalese man uses his smart phone to photograph a display of Christmas lights in the shape of a giant tree, in central Dakar, Senegal. As Christmas approaches in ... more